Load distributing, auxiliary power, duo semi-trailer tractor



April 4, 1939. E. A. HEYN 2,153,468

LOAD ISISTRIBUTING; AUXILIARY POWER, DUO SEM"TRAILER TRACTOR Filed June14, 1957 /zeven Zor,

Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES LOAD DISTRIBUTING, AUXILIARY POWERDUO SEMI-TRAILER. TRACTOR Ernest A. Heyn, Los Angeles, Calif.y

2 Claims.

This invention is a tractor, duo-semi-trailer combination for generalhighway transportation of heavy and elongate load bodies.

y In the transportation of freight or other heavy loads over publichighways the load must be distributed over a number of vehicle wheelsunder laws and regulations xin'g the load per wheel,

An object of this invention is to provide not only for the greaterdistribution of the vehicle load to various wheels, but further toprovide for the division of the load Weight of the body itself ontodifferent units of a multi-unit tractor train instead of placing all ofthe load body directly on one'train unit to be ldistributed therefrom tocoupled units.

Also an object is to provide for the effective direct imposition oftheload body onto different units of the tractor train, and to providemeans to facilitate the operationA of the train in making road or othernecessary turns in travel and to one another or to the. tractor as tovertically I impose a part of agiven load on its leader.

To these purposes the invention comprises a leader tractor andsemi-trailer units at least one of which has an auxiliary power plantand which unit is designed for direct imposition of the load body, andcomprises, also, means for facilitating turning traverse of the train;particularly when the load body is of elongate form.

The invention consists of the advancements in this art as set forth inthe ensuing disclosure and having, with the above, additional objectsand advantages as hereinafter developed, and whose construction,combinatim and details of means, and the manner of operation will bemade manifest in the description of the herewith illustrated embodimentof the invention; it being understood that modications, variations andadaptations may be resorted to Within the scope, principle and spirit ofthe subjoined claims.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the tractor-train.

Figurel 2 is a transverse, sectional detail of av sliding bed device forthe contiguous end of an elongate load body imposed on the vehicle.

A suitable, leader tractor 2 is provided with an appropriate type offifth wheel or connection 3 preferably forward of the axle of its rearwheel or axis of the wheel group l, as the case may be.

Attached to this iifth wheel device is the over- Appuannm :une 14, 1931,serial No. 14am (etico-14) hanging, forward end of a suitable frame 5which'is supported at its opposite or rear end on a suitable kwheelmeans 6. This constitutes anV auxiliary, semi-trailer unit and has,forward oi itsrear wheel me'ans 6 a fth wheel device 1 of o suitabletype in the same plane and of the same type as the fth wheel 3 on thetractor 2.

To the auxiliary* unit hitch or fifth lwheel 'l there is attached theforward, overhanging end of a suitable frame 8 provided with a suitablerear l'l end load wheel system 9, whereby to form a semitrailer havingits front end vertically transferring a part of an applied load onto theaux `iliary section 5, which by reason/of its vertical imposition ontothe leader tractor 2 actsl to trans- 1t fer part ci the load it (theauxiliary section 5) receives from the third section or semi-trailer 8,It will be seen that the two sections 5 and -8 form duo-semi-trallerunits in the train so connectedas to deliver a part of the body load onthe second 20 unit 8 by the intermediate unit 5 to the tractor 2 at apoint materially inadvance of the axle center of its rear wheel devicel.

A feature of the present invention is to provide for the directplacement of a part of the load 25 body, such as a very large and heavyexcavator shown in dotted lines Fig. 1, on the intermediate or auxiliaryunit 5, as by freely lowering the heavy scoop S onto unit 5, while thecab C and the crane arm A are supported on the semi- 30 trailer 8. i i vTo that end and to provide for ready turning of the connected tractorand trailer sections 5 and 8, there is mounted on the section 5 a bedframe lli slidable on guide rails Il extending 35 longitudinally of 'and'.fixed on the overhanging end of the semi-trailer section 5. Thus, in;the case of such elongated load bodies not only is a part of the loadvertically imposed forwardly of the rear wheel support of the auxiliaryor interi0 mediate, semi-trailer section or unit 5, but the f movablesupporting' bed thereon automatically compensates for angular movementof the steerably connected sections 5 and 8;

Such a direct vertical imposition of load body 45 directly on the,semi-trailer sections 5 and 8 '1s of very great importance in apparatusof this class where thestructure is intended to be loaded with bodieswhich may readily involve a weight of as much as seventy-five tons. Inthe case here illustrated, as much as ten or more tons arere moved fromthe section 8 by placing it directly on the intermediate section 5v forloading the wheels I and 6, and avoiding that much on the u nit orsection 8. 55

Another feature of the invention is the provision oi' additional drivewheel means inthe semi-trailer system following the tractor 2. In

' the present embodiment the auidiiary, semitrailer'section lisgprovided with a motor I* having suitable transmission' connection 5bwith the road wheels I; it being understood that the motor I* may be ofany suitable type and under control .of the operator in the cab of theleader 'tractor 2.v

lThus the unit l, is not only an auxiliary, semivtrailer'ior bOdysupport but ls also 'an 'auxiliary drive or power plant in the train.

What is claimed is: t

1. A highway tractor train having a leader tractor,l a trainend-semi-trailer.' and an intermediate, auxiliary, seymi-tra'iler with"a connectionbitching its forward end to the tractor-at a point forwardof the wheel group axis ofthe tractor to distribute vertical loadfto thefore and aft wheel `for direct reception of part ofthe load objectcarried by the rear-end semi-trailer: the load object forming no draftconnection in the train.

2. A highway tractor as set forth in claim 1,l

and in which the bed is arranged at a point contiguous to the front endsupports of the intermediate auxiliary and provides for a shift of thepoint of load application.

ERNEST A. HEYN.

